Chapter 34: “I’ll Do It Myself”

At the start of a new week, the “Le Dong Music” project team held their routine morning meeting.

A fierce discussion was underway in the conference room.

Regarding the final choice for the “Le Dong” promoter, one faction supported Director Feng’s proposal of the solo idol Wu Wu, while another favored Jiang Yao’s recommendation of the emerging singer Ying Wan.

Ying Wan, in his early twenties, had gained some local fame in Lingbei through online streaming a few years ago. Last year, he officially appeared in the public eye through a music variety show. This year, he formed a band with contestants he met on the show, becoming a hot favorite at major music festivals. Although he didn’t have as many fans as the popular idol Wu Wu, his fans were highly loyal.

Director Feng adjusted his glasses and said, “Ying Wan’s popularity is far from matching Wu Wu’s.”

Jiang Yao responded, “Wu Wu has a lot of haters, doesn’t have a good public image, and lacks significant works. Plus, his endorsement fee is very high.”

“Public image is meaningless. In an era where traffic is king, those who can capture the public’s attention the fastest are the true heroes!”

Director Feng was known for his stubborn temper and already had some disdain for Jiang Yao, who had parachuted into the project team as the boss. After a whole morning of fruitless discussion and being rebutted by the young master of the Dong family, he was feeling quite agitated, even developing a blister at the corner of his mouth.

“But the positioning of ‘Le Dong’ is not a fast-moving consumer product.” Jiang Yao maintained a calm expression as he picked up the remote control and opened a PowerPoint presentation. “Everyone, please take a look. This is a risk prediction and commercial value assessment for Ying Wan and Wu Wu, analyzed by Jiang Li’s newly developed AI in conjunction with our professional planning team…”

Jiang Yao pulled out his trump card. Half an hour later, the wavering team members decisively swung to Jiang Yao’s side.

After leaving the conference room, Jiang Yao loosened his collar and took a breath. The business manager beside him flipped through the documents in his hand and hesitantly said, “From the collected data, it seems Ying Wan is quite difficult to deal with.”

Jiang Yao asked, “What do you mean by difficult?”

“Personality,” the manager replied. “Talented people often have a bit of an ego.”

Jiang Yao nodded slightly.

He had heard about this before. Even fans described Ying Wan as having a “face and personality that grew independently of each other.”

After a moment of contemplation, Jiang Yao said to the manager, “Give me the information. I’ll handle it myself.”

*

The next morning, the sky was overcast, and the air was thick with impending rain. Jiang Yao drove to a building.

This building was almost entirely occupied by companies that incubate artists and internet celebrities, densely packed like a beehive. Rui Guo Entertainment, the company Ying Wan was signed with, was one of the lesser-known ones.

Since it was a simple meeting to finalize the cooperation intentions of both parties, Jiang Yao only brought his assistant.

Following the manager into the office, there was a slender figure lying on the sofa in the corner. Although his face wasn’t clear, his aura unmistakably identified him as Ying Wan.

In the entertainment industry, those with this level of appearance either debut as idols or become actors to earn money in the film and television world.

Ying Wan alone had refused several script invitations, focusing steadfastly on his band, which demonstrated his commitment to music and aligned perfectly with Le Dong’s philosophy.

When they reached the reception area, Jiang Yao glanced at Ying Wan and asked the manager, “Aren’t we meeting together?”

The manager poured him a cup of tea and said, “Let’s talk first.”

Jiang Yao had no objections and sat down directly.

Artists with as little experience as Ying Wan typically signed unequal contracts, leaving them at the mercy of their entertainment companies, so it wasn’t surprising that he couldn’t make decisions on his own.

Jiang Yao reiterated the cooperation intentions face-to-face, timely offering some enticing conditions, and waited for the manager’s response.

The manager looked a few meters away and said, “Ivan, what do you think?”

The person on the sofa moved, shifting the hand that was covering their face, revealing an unforgettable visage. Their features were strikingly beautiful, transcending gender, with skin so pale it seemed to glow even under the overcast sky, like a clear gem that sparked curiosity about what kind of gentle man he might be.

The next moment, he spoke slowly, “I reject any business dealings on a personal basis.”

His voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear and cold, leaving no room for negotiation.

The warm gem instantly transformed into a blade covered in frost and snow.

Jiang Yao, in the middle of sipping tea, almost choked.

He set down the teacup and raised an eyebrow, asking, “Mr. Ying is not satisfied with Le Dong’s terms? These can be negotiated further.”

In fact, the benefits and subsequent dividends he had offered already exceeded Ying Wan’s current status in the industry.

Ying Wan sat up, looking at Jiang Yao from a few meters away, and said calmly, “If it’s changed to a group entry, I can consider it.”

As he spoke, his expression remained unruffled, appearing somewhat aloof, like the wind on a high-latitude snowfield—unpredictable and distanced, yet not arrogant.

A face and personality that grew independently of each other.

Jiang Yao finally had a tangible understanding of this description.

Ying Wan was referring to his band, IDEAL. Compared to the entire band, Ying Wan’s individual fame was clearly greater. For budget considerations, signing only Ying Wan offered the highest cost-effectiveness.

Jiang Yao intertwined his fingers and then tossed the question back to the manager, “Mr. Xu, what do you think?”

The manager smiled helplessly, “Sorry, Mr. Jiang, Ivan must be willing for the endorsement to happen.”

Jiang Yao was somewhat surprised. It seemed Ying Wan was not as controlled by the company as he had thought. On the contrary, he had significant say in matters.

After a moment of contemplation, Jiang Yao offered even more benefits.

In fact, according to their research, Ying Wan hadn’t received any business cooperation larger than what Le Dong was offering. Moreover, Le Dong was backed by Jiang Li Technology, which also had a significant presence in the self-media market. If it were any other small artist, they would have eagerly embraced this opportunity without hesitating over some abstract sense of team loyalty.

But Ying Wan remained unmoved, his voice cool and clear, “My stance is very clear: if you want me, you must agree to my conditions. Otherwise, Mr. Jiang, feel free to make your own decision.”

Jiang Yao raised his eyebrows, half-jokingly saying, “It seems Mr. Ying is convinced that Le Dong cannot do without you.”

Ying Wan touched his metal earring, responding with neither humility nor arrogance, “Le Dong certainly does not need me, but my music cannot do without them. Without them, it is not complete music.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yao sighed slightly and pinched the bridge of his nose. As the party with more control and authority, he could easily dismiss this stubborn individual and walk away.

In the fiercely competitive music industry, where everyone is scrambling to climb to the top, there is no shortage of agreeable singers with low demands. Unfortunately, after just a short ten-minute interaction, Jiang Yao found himself appreciating Ying Wan even more.

He had talent, principles, and attitude.

Moreover, Jiang Yao had a strong premonition that in the near future, Ying Wan would soar to great heights, just as the AI predicted, bringing Le Dong double the profits.

Thus, Jiang Yao, acting in his capacity as the highest decision-maker, offered a concession: “We can change it to group promotion, but the individual remuneration will be relatively reduced.”

This time, Ying Wan nodded readily, “Then let’s have a pleasant cooperation.”

Jiang Yao sighed inwardly, anticipating another clash with Director Feng once he found out.

Fortunately, Hua Yan had invested enough money in them.

Thinking of Hua Yan, a certain person flashed through Jiang Yao’s mind. He casually flipped open the phone that was lying face down on the table, and the screen happened to display a message from Duan Zhuxian: “Come over early, let’s have lunch together.”

Recently, Jiang Li had a new large-scale project requiring investment, and in the afternoon, Jiang Yao would represent Jiang Li at Hua Yan to attend an on-site briefing, presenting and analyzing the project content to Hua Yan’s top executives.

Although the two companies were already allied through marriage, the formalities still had to be observed.

Jiang Qingtian entrusted the task to Jiang Yao, intentionally encouraging him to interact more with Hua Yan for future collaborations.

Jiang Yao raised an eyebrow and replied, “No time, I have an appointment with a beautiful lady to discuss a project.”

The chat box immediately showed “typing…” for about a minute, but he only received one sentence: “I’ll pick you up after it’s over.”

Hua Yan’s headquarters were more than twenty kilometers away, with a risk of traffic jams. Jiang Yao thought Duan Zhuxian was being quite unreasonable, already full before lunchtime.

He replied, “No need to trouble you, Mr. Duan. I’ll drive over myself later.”

Having reached a preliminary consensus, the subsequent conversation became much more relaxed. Jiang Yao and Manager Xu chatted and laughed for a while, with Jiang Yao’s gaze occasionally drifting to Ying Wan, who was leaning by the window.

Ying Wan had been staring at his phone the entire time. Though his face still bore that calm, water-like expression, the knuckles gripping his phone were turning white, indicating he was likely feeling anxious.

Jiang Yao asked, “Mr. Ying, do you have something else to attend to?”

Ying Wan suddenly looked up, masking his anxiety with a smile, “No.”

A few minutes later, Ying Wan seemed to receive some news and hurried out, forgetting even to put on his coat.

When Jiang Yao bid farewell to the manager, Ying Wan still hadn’t returned.

Jiang Yao didn’t plan to wait. He asked his assistant to retrieve the car from the parking lot, intending to go directly to Hua Yan.

The clouds that had been gathering all day finally turned into a torrential downpour, and the corridor lights were broken, casting everything in darkness.

With his vision slightly impaired, Jiang Yao accidentally went the wrong way, ending up at the most remote emergency exit.

Just as he was about to find the elevator again, he heard faint sounds coming from the emergency exit.

Through the half-open door, amidst the muffled thunder, Jiang Yao saw Ying Wan leaning against a man in a suit, his breathing slightly labored. The slightly swaying left earring reflected the green light of the emergency exit sign.

Their posture didn’t resemble a hug but rather seemed like Ying Wan was clinging to the man. The man had one hand in his pocket, and the other hand was hovering near Ying Wan’s waist, but his palm never fully made contact.

Moments later, the man decisively pushed Ying Wan away.

“Brother, hold me for just one more minute, please.”

Ying Wan looked up at him, the elegant curve of his neck revealing a blend of pleading and desire, barely suppressing an urgent need.

The man looked down at him, his gaze cold and detached, like a superior, falling on Ying Wan’s face with an almost unfeeling control.

After a long standoff, the man seemed to compromise. He finally wrapped his arms around Ying Wan’s thin, trembling shoulders, pulling the young man back into his embrace.

This time, it wasn’t a half-hearted hug; the force was so strong it seemed like he wanted to crush Ying Wan into his chest.

Unexpectedly stumbling upon this scene, Jiang Yao clicked his tongue silently.

The Ying Wan before him now bore no trace of the previous cool and indifferent demeanor.

But he wasn’t a paparazzo and had no voyeuristic tendencies. He turned on his phone flashlight and then walked away.

*

Upon arriving at Hua Yan, Jiang Yao was greeted by Duan Zhuxian’s secretary, who introduced himself, “Good afternoon, Mr. Jiang. My surname is Li.”

Jiang Yao nodded, feeling a strange sense of familiarity emanating from this man.

He asked, “Where is Duan Zhuxian?”

Secretary Li seemed momentarily taken aback by Jiang Yao’s casual inquiry about Mr. Duan and paused before saying, “Mr. Duan is busy.”

While waiting for the elevator, Jiang Yao made small talk, “You all must be quite afraid of him, right?”

Secretary Li shook his head, “Mr. Duan is a great leader—skillful, decisive, and never difficult with his subordinates. He has a lot of personal charm. I remember when I was first transferred to headquarters with no prospects for promotion, it was Mr. Duan who elevated me…”

Secretary Li smiled as he reminisced, his words full of admiration and loyalty.

Seeing him endlessly praise Duan Zhuxian, Jiang Yao suddenly remembered that this man bore a slight resemblance to Shen Tang from the side, which explained why he looked familiar.

Jiang Yao interrupted him, and ask, “How long have you been Duan Zhuxian’s secretary?”

Secretary Li paused and said, “I was promoted to the Vice President’s office last year.”

The elevator doors opened, and Jiang Yao was led directly to the conference room on the twelfth floor.

Since the alliance plan hadn’t been made public yet, apart from a few top executives, no one knew about his relationship with Duan Zhuxian.

Duan Zhuxian was the last to arrive, sitting at the far end of the table from Jiang Yao.

During the presentation, Jiang Yao occasionally glanced in Duan Zhuxian’s direction, each time meeting Duan Zhuxian’s focused gaze. It felt as though something silently connected them in the tense and serious conference room.

After Jiang Yao finished presenting the project, the leaders and experts present asked a few questions. Upon receiving satisfactory answers, they nodded in agreement, with no significant doubts remaining. Only a middle-aged executive named Ma bombarded Jiang Yao with a barrage of questions from start to finish, seemingly determined to find flaws in his presentation.

When the meeting ended, Jiang Yao was held back by a few top executives. At that moment, he received a message from Duan Zhuxian: “Come to my office afterward.”

Jiang Yao instinctively glanced outside the conference room.

At the door, Duan Zhuxian gave a few instructions to his secretary, then glanced briefly at Jiang Yao before walking away without further acknowledgment.

The whole situation felt like an illicit affair, perfectly matching Duan Zhuxian’s hypocritically proper persona.

Jiang Yao internally rolled his eyes.

After dealing with a few of Hua Yan’s top executives, Jiang Yao found Secretary Li waiting by the conference room door.

The Vice President’s office was on the fifteenth floor. After inviting Jiang Yao in, Secretary Li closed the office door behind them.

By the large floor-to-ceiling windows, Duan Zhuxian was at his desk, reviewing documents.

Jiang Yao glanced back at the closed door and teased, “Your secretary is quite handsome.”

Duan Zhuxian put down his pen and looked up. “Really? I hadn’t noticed.”

Jiang Yao, with a hint of meaning, asked, “Don’t you think he looks like someone?”

“When it comes to subordinates, I only care about their work abilities, not these irrelevant details,” Duan Zhuxian replied coolly.

His tone, which completely disregarded others, was the same arrogant demeanor as always.

But for the first time, Jiang Yao didn’t find it annoying.

In fact, he felt a little… satisfied.

Jiang Yao walked over to the guest sofa next to the desk and sat down casually.

Having been grilled in the conference room earlier, he hadn’t had a chance to catch his breath. He loosened his tie and unbuttoned a few shirt buttons. “With Mr. Ma’s attitude, do you think there will be any hiccups with this investment?”

Although he said this, his face showed no signs of worry.

In fact, he was quite confident about his performance today. The investment was practically in the bag.

“No, that’s just his cautious nature,” Duan Zhuxian replied, putting away the documents. He then looked at Jiang Yao, who was lounging on the sofa in his formal attire.

Jiang Yao rarely wore suits, especially such somber black ones, which seemed to wrap up all his arrogance and pride, leaving only the meticulous, unassailable steadiness he showed in the conference room.

But at this moment, Jiang Yao had one leg crossed over the other, the black pant leg slightly lifted, revealing his starkly white, prominent ankle bone, hinting at something more beneath the surface.

Duan Zhuxian’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. He walked over to Jiang Yao, bending down slightly, “If you’re really worried, you can ask me to back you up. After all, I’m the one who makes the final decision.”

As he spoke, Duan Zhuxian’s handsome face moved closer and closer.

Jiang Yao didn’t shy away, leaning back on the sofa and raising an eyebrow, “So, Mr. Duan, are you implying you want to trade favors?”

“You’ll need to show some sincerity,” Duan Zhuxian’s voice lowered as he pinned Jiang Yao’s hands, his tall frame slowly pressing down.

The moment Duan Zhuxian’s hot lips touched the side of his neck, Jiang Yao suddenly flipped over, taking control.

“Mr. Duan, you’re a busy man. No need to make a fuss.”

Jiang Yao, with a mischievous smile, lightly tugged Duan Zhuxian’s tie and blew a breath into his ear. “I’ll do it myself.”